Designing Electric Cars: A University-Based Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration with Elementary Schools

Abstract

This article describes the creation of a university-based cross-disciplinary collaboration with elementary schools to address the challenges faced by teacher preparation programs in providing preservice teachers opportunities to design integrated STEM learning environments. The partnership focused on the design of an electric car unit and complementary materials. The rationale for this topic was twofold: to build capacity on NGSS-aligned STEM learning environment design among preservice and inservice teachers and to foster literacy on electric vehicles. The article also discusses the learning opportunities afforded to all collaborators and the lessons learned from the design and implementation process.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Electric vehicles
• cross-disciplinary collaboration
• teacher preparation
• engineering undergraduates
• elementary level

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Award No. 2115427. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the National Science Foundation.